Lydia Millen, the fashion and lifestyle influencer often dubbed a 'poshfluencer' for her love of tweed and country living, has opened up about her surprisingly different past. The 37-year-old, known for her polished image in Barbour jackets and cashmere, is now reflecting with pride on her journey from a modest council house to a multi-million pound estate.
A Tale of Two Homes
Lydia recently shared a nostalgic before-and-after look at the ex-council house she and her husband, fellow content creator Ali Gordon, bought a decade ago in Milton Keynes. This stands in stark contrast to the couple's current abode: a stunning £2 million home in Northamptonshire, complete with sage green walls, a farmhouse aesthetic, and immaculate gardens.
The couple shares their luxurious country home with two dogs, Porter and Berkeley, a cat named Lumi, a horse called Atlas, and nine chickens. Yet, despite the obvious upgrade, Lydia expresses fierce pride in her roots and the humble property that marked the beginning of their journey together.
Embracing a Transformed Image
Lydia's current well-groomed, country-chic persona is a world away from her style in her twenties. Back then, she sported dark, straightened hair, heavy eyeliner, and modelled outfits featuring pleather halternecks and thigh-high socks.
While some critics have attempted to use these old images to 'expose' her, Lydia laughs it off. "The things you try to expose about my past are things you only know because I have happily shared them," she stated. She maintains she is proud of her origins and has nothing to hide, viewing her evolution as a testament to her hard work.
Building a Self-Made Empire
Lydia's road to success was not pre-ordained. Completely self-made, she taught herself to code websites at just 13 years old. Born in Watford and growing up in Croxley Green, Hertfordshire, her first venture into influencing began in 2011 with a written blog while studying marketing at university, focusing on charity shop finds and upcycling clothes.
She started vlogging in 2014 and went full-time two years later. Her content has evolved from fashion to encompass countryside living, gardening, and the outdoors, resonating with a global audience of over 4 million followers.
Lydia and Ali have reportedly amassed a joint fortune of £10 million. Her influence has led to collaborations with major brands like Oscar De La Renta, Karen Millen, and Holland Cooper, and features in Vogue, Forbes, and Harper’s Bazaar. Her debut book, 'Evergreen', sold 40,000 copies.
Even with her success, she fondly remembers her first car, a Vauxhall Corsa bought 21 years ago, a far cry from the Range Rovers and sports cars she has access to today. Married to Ali in 2017 at Aynhoe Park, the power couple's story continues to inspire fans fascinated by their authentic journey from modest beginnings to a life of luxury and influence.
